New Ideas!

While the majority of my contacts haven't been super helpful, it has been useful for me to put my ideas out there. Just writing to all of these different professors and bloggers, has helped me work through my own ideas. I have found that when I write down my topic, I write it in different ways when I am trying to contact different people. This has helped me understand how many little tiny facets and sides there are to the idea of imagination leading to creative content. 

One of my contacts, a blogger named Darcy, wrote:

"Imagination is not an unalloyed good, and neither is instant access to everything anyone ever wrote on a topic. But it's probably better than the alternative.Looking directly to the use of imagination, it's true that broadly defined imagination is essential. Arguably we couldn't function without it, the ability to envision a situation different from the current one doesn't just allow us to change our lives in significant ways, it helps us to simply get through the day. But not all imagination is of the same quality."

This definitely helped me to realize that imagination isn't something that is misunderstood or good versus bad. As with everything, imagination is what we make of it. While my thesis is staying the same, this as well as talking with my cohorts has helped me direct my call of action to those who use the internet and blogging as an "online journal." It is important that we try to use the power of blogging and the internet for good, rather than content that isn't helpful or pertinent to anyone. 

It is an Essay Trailer!

These are the main ideas of my essay...in trailer format! Please let me know what you think. Keep in mind that this is my first youtube video ever, and when converting files it made the audio file go a little out of sync. However, this the perfect point to remind everyone that sometimes publishing the creative process is more important than the actual result! 

Imagination moving the World: Paper in a Post

"On the human imagination events produce the effects of time. Thus, he who has traveled far and seen much is apt to fancy that he has lived long." “But Anne with her elbows on the window sill, her soft cheek laid against her clasped hands, and her eyes filled with visions, looked out unheedingly across city roof and spire to that glorious dome of sunset sky and wove her dreams of a possible future from the golden tissue of youth's own optimism. All the Beyond was hers, with its possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years — each year a rose of promise to be woven into an immortal chaplet.”

Since the beginning, myth and imagination has influenced how we see the world. Our history books are filled with the romanticized idea of events that actually occurred. In Anne of Green Gables, Anne is consistently known as a character with a knack for imagination. While many think that daydreaming and imagination is a way to hide from reality, this is not true. Our imaginations are a product of human labor. For some, this comes easily, but for others they struggle to see beyond the scope of their own reality. By using our creativity and ability to re-imagine our own personal world in blogs, today's technology allows each of us to take part in the transformation and growth of our culture. 

In Anne of Green Gables, one of the main characters, Matthew Cuthbert, is known for being shy and unable to speak his mind to women. He is stuck in his own boring, daily routine. When he and his sister, Marilla, plan on adopting a young boy to help around the farm, they accidentally get a girl instead- Anne. While Marilla wants to send Anne back to the orphanage, Matthew imagines what his life would be like with a talkative young girl around. From the moment Anne and Matthew left, her imagination began to change the way Matthew saw the world around him. In that one instant where he allowed his imagination to run free, he let his heart open to this love starved little girl, and it ended up changing his life forever. Anne is known for saying,"It is delightful when your dreams come true, isn't it?" Anne had a way of not using her imagination just to escape the world, but to influence her life and the lives of others. 

In one particular article, called "Do you use your Imagination?," by Remez Sasson, the definition of imagination is questioned. It isn't a useless waste of time, but the ability to visualize different situations and events. By using this tool, we can prepare ourselves for different problems that may arise, plan events, and create something completely new. In a more romantic sense, one blogger named John claimed that there is a traditional "understanding imagination as the spiritual heart of the human person." By combining both of these ideas, it can be argued that imagination is both useful and romantic. It covers every aspect of human life. It allows us to be practical and  accomplish things that we need to do daily, while still allowing us to show a reflection of what lies within our hearts. 

While talking to my cohorts and many bloggers within the extensive blogging world, I have realized that there are many different types of blogs and reasons for wanting to share your thoughts with the world. Blogs are unique, because unlike other social media, they are used for more than just talking to friends or relating exactly what we are doing every minute of the day. They are forums for expressions, and allow creativity to flourish, and are ways to expand our hobbies and interests. Even more than that, they allow our ideas to grow and expand by allowing the world to comment on our thoughts and creations. This "social proof," that our ideas are relevant and interesting to someone other than ourselves changes the way we think. By allowing others to engaged in our imaginations, we transform the way we think and feel. Our imaginations have the ability to move our lives in different directions than we originally expected. It is important to use blogs not just as an online journal, but as a way to really express the way we think and to be creative in a social atmosphere. By allowing the two way street of letting our ideas influence others, and others creations spark our own ideas, the online culture of letting imagination run wild and free directly affects our lives.  

Anne's Imagination and Social Proof

One thing I have noticed about Anne's devoted fans, is that they tend to identify with her crazy imagination. This obviously leads to a huge group of people that are daydreamers. People who live in fantasy of worlds of their own. People who are inspired one moment, and then move on to the next thing they can't live without in the next. Exactly like Anne. I know this, because I am just like her. However, this daydream-y attitude does NOT lead to a lot of feedback with social proof. Ok. Maybe I am exaggerating. But I have had difficulty getting people to respond. This does not mean that their ideas and numerous sources haven't inspired me and my theories though.

So far I have been contacting people and posting questions about Anne of Green Gables on facebook, with a little feedback. It seems everyone "likes" my ideas, but it has been difficult engaging any one person in a lengthy conversation about this topic. However, I have had a little more success by commenting on fan reviews of Anne of Green Gables on Goodreads. The fans there have many interesting ideas about Anne's character. 

The best resource I have found has been the many, many blogs dedicated not only to Anne of Green Gables, but also to the topic of imagination within the blogging atmosphere. Their ideas have influenced my own theories about my topic of choice. I have emailed Janga, The Anne of Green Gables and L.M. Montgomery Lexicon, and Darcy Cowan, directly about the ideas they blog about, and am hoping for some responses!

Right now I am working up the courage to contact some experts on the topic. They are:

• Paul W. Martin- An English Professor who teaches Canadian Literature with an emphasis on women characters and their roles throughout their books. 
• J.T Barbarese- An English Professor who teaches Anne of Green Gables as part of a romantic modern literature class. 
• Nancy McCabe- Is a Professor and a Director of a writing program. She also writes literary reviews and articles. 
• Victoria Nash- An enthusiastic blogger who writes about Anne of Green Gables and imagination vs reality. 

While Social proof has been difficult, it definitely has been a rewarding learning experience. The little feedback I have had among family, friends, and social networks has helped me narrow down my ideas. When I first began thinking about topics for my paper, I had too many ideas whirling around in my head. It wasn't until I was inspired by the many blogs and syllabus (Syllabi?) that I finally discovered what interested me within the many topics of Anne of Green Gables. 

The Sources behind Anne of Green Gables Theory

Tweethis Statement: Anne, from Anne of Green gables suffers from a conflict between her imagination and the real world. Today’s blogging atmosphere naturally allows imagination to soar, but does this help or hurt our perceptions of reality?

The Lion and the Unicorn 34 (2010) 125-147 c. The John Hopkins University Press
http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/lion_and_the_unicorn/v034/34.2.miller.pdf 
This is a scholarly monograph found through Project MUSE. This article asserts that the gothic imagination of character contrasts with reality in order to socially instruct the characters on discipline of their imaginations. Once the imagination is done away with, they will be ready for their own real life romances. This fits perfectly with my idea that imagination and wanting to project a certain image while blogging can hold you back from the real world.

Gates, Charlene E. “Image, Imagination, and Initiation: Teaching as a Rite of Passage.”
         Children’s Literature in Education 20.3 (1989): 165-173
          http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01126458
This is a scholarly article in a journal found through google scholar. Gates argues that the combination of image and imagination leads to a more satisfying result than reality. This made me think about how people combine what they want people to think and the truth about the themselves when blogging in order to create something more interesting.

Solis-Gadea, Hecter Raul. “The New Sociological Imagination: Facing the Challenges of a New Millennium.”
          International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society 18.3-4 (2005):113-122
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/20059678?searchUrl=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dimagination%2Band%2Btechnology%26gw%3Djtx%26acc%3Don%26prq%3D%2528imagination%2529%26Search%3DSearch%26hp%3D25%26wc%3Don&Search=yes&uid=3739928&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=47699020948347 
This scholarly article, found through a search found by my cohorts on JSTOR, talks about sociological imagination as a way of facing intellectual challenges in present times. This helped me think of how imagination and learning go hand in hand with Anne’s character.

"Force of Imagination." The Dublin Penny Journal , Vol 3, No. 144 (1835), p. 319
http://www.jstor.org/stable/30003722?&Search=yes&searchText=imagination&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedSearch%3Fq0%3Dimagination%26f0%3Dall%26c1%3DAND%26q1%3D%26f1%3Dall%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don%26Search%3DSearch%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26la%3D%26jo%3D&prevSearch=&item=12&ttl=19644&returnArticleService=showFullText
This scholarly journal article, found through JSTOR, relates a science experiment on the force of imagination. This made me think of blogging as a way to imagine that our lives are better. The force of imagination can make real things fall into place. Almost like the concept of "fake it till you make it." Anne was always trying to imagine the way things should be, and many of her dreams came true.

Montgomery, L.M., and Cecily Margaret Devereux. Anne of Green Gables. Peterborough,
         Ont.:Broadview, 2004. Print.
http://books.google.com/books?id=9kpgvRjMlNMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
This is a scholarly edition of my primary text, and I found it through a recommendation on an article found on JSTOR. The commentary in this book suggest that imagination makes people individuals, instead of conformists. This made me think of all the blogs that are all the say format and are just part of the masses. They aren't extraordinary. Do blogs require an imaginative twist to make them unique?

"An Experimental Study of Imagination." The American Journal of Psychology, Vol. 21, No. 3(Jul., 1910),                      
     pp. 422-452.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1413350?seq=2&Search=yes&searchText=imagination&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedSearch%3Fq0%3Dimagination%26f0%3Dall%26c1%3DAND%26q1%3D%26f1%3Dall%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don%26Search%3DSearch%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26la%3D%26jo%3D&prevSearch=&item=21&ttl=19644&returnArticleService=showFullText&resultsServiceName=null
This is from a scholarly article from a journal found on JSTOR. This article is a scientific study of imaginations. It defines imagination as more than the ability to distort facts or the ability to live in a colored world rather than the "gray world of reality." It also means to see things with a rosy light, or to entice a feeling of sympathy. This helped me to see Anne's character in a new light, and helped define exactly what imagination was.

Rubio, Mary. "Satire, Realism, and Imagination in Anne of Green Gables." University of Winnipeg. c.2008.  http://ccl-lcj.ca/index.php/ccl-lcj/article/viewArticle/1213
This is a scholarly article found through google scholar. It was written about the imagination in Anne of Green Gables and compares it to the realism of life. It says imagination is romanticized, but that it happens in a way that shows the real event. This way, you see exactly what Anne's point of view is. This fits with my thesis, because it shows me that while some imaginative blogging might not be realistic, it could certainly show exactly what the writer's real point of view is.

Gammel, Irene. Looking for Anne of Green Gables: The Story of L.M. Montgomery and her Literary
           Classic. Macmillan. 2008. Print.
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8OL_VpTa7tEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA13&dq=anne+of+green+gables+and+imagination&ots=el83RJ9xn0&sig=pS5OEczbfR2onrzXPgZBjHgOLzs#v=onepage&q=anne%20of%20green%20gables%20and%20imagination&f=false
This is a book found on google scholar. It is a literary analysis of Anne of Green Gables, as well as the author. In the prologue, it points out the quote where Anne is saying that what she can imagine about herself is much more interesting that what she knows about herself. This fits with the idea in my thesis that people embellish their lives while blogging in order to seem more interesting. The idea of self protection and perception is more important than reality.

While this research experience was challenging, it helped a lot with developing my ideas. When I began, I had a very basic idea about the subject I wanted to write about. After looking at all the articles and journals about my topic, it helped me think more in depth about my theories, and exactly what direction I want to take my paper. It was nice to get back to my roots and research books and article rather than websites, but I do think that the websites will add a lot to my ideas as well. I think this will end up being the perfect mix of sources, but I am glad to finally have the bibliography finished, as citing sources is time consuming!!!

Kindred Spirit

What is a Kindred Spirit? Most Anne of Green Gables Fans would know. According to a blogpost by a girl with the pen name of Miss Dashwood, Kindred Spirits are friends who always know what to say, but don't need words to know how you feel. A friend with whom you can feel safe and mirrors your own thoughts. You understand each other and have that special connection. Essentially, your souls are made of the same stuff. In Anne of Green Gables, Anne finds 'Kindred Spirits' in unique places. They don't always start out liking each other, but eventually Anne's way of seeing the world wins people over. The  digital age, and in particular, blogging, is just a new way for people to form Kindred Spirits. When we blog about our ways of seeing the world, and our own perceptions, it puts our ideas out into the universe. Instead of having to wait to meet someone in order to become friends, you can find friendship with people from all over.

While commenting on blogs dedicated to Anne of Green Gables, I have found camaraderie with many people outside of my world in Provo. While I am still working on getting them to comment on my own ideas, I find it that our shared love of the characters in Anne's story is a great place to start. 

Influence on the World

Today, while reading a literary criticism of Anne of Green Gables, https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/mchen6/www/collection/514A/eva.htm, a certain quote stood out. It reads, " Our perception of reality often becomes the blueprint for our lives." In Anne's case, her imaginings affected her everyday life. She was a dreamer, constantly trying to form her world to fit the way she saw things  inside her head. She had so many ideas that she formed a story club in order to 'cultivate her imagination.' Anne influenced so many people because she dared to dream big and spoke of the things in her imagination unabashedly. People today are still dreaming, and imagining things that they want to happen in their own lives. In the digital age, we are now capable of spreading our thoughts and ideas to the entire world. The hope is that our own perceptions of reality influence someone else and their own perceptions. We aren't speaking to ourselves, but to the entire world. The only problem is everyone wants to be unique and to put their every thought and feeling out there for everyone to see. Like Dr. Burton said, a lot of content on the internet is inert and doesn't really have a point. However, the digital media has the potential to act as a medium for our own ideas to become the blueprint for other people's ideas about the world.